Adoption of new farming technologies increasing agricultural production and productivity

The Agricultural Excellence Indaba presided over by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on the fourth day of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show in Harare on Thursday 29 August 2024 emphasised the critical role that new farming technologies play in increasing agricultural production and productivity.

In her presentation during the Indaba, held under the theme “Research and Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Agribusiness Development: Implementation of New Knowledge and Technologies on Agricultural Practice: Research Results Utilization!”,  the SeedCo Zimbabwe Head of Agronomy Services, Wendy Madzura, said the adoption rate of new farming technologies is increasing as farmers recognize the potential for these innovations to improve their operations and somewhat address challenges such as climate change, soil degradation, and food security.

She said small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe have adopted conservation agriculture techniques such as minimum tillage, mulching, and crop rotation to improve soil fertility, water retention, and weed control.

Farmers have integrated trees into their farming systems to provide shade, windbreaks, and additional sources of income through the sale of timber and fruits. Small-scale farmers have adopted drip irrigation systems to efficiently use water resources and mitigate the impact of drought on their crops.

Integrated pest management (IPM) has seen farmers in Zimbabwe using practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and biological control methods to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and minimize environmental impact. Small-scale farmers are conducting soil tests to determine nutrient deficiencies and adjust fertilization practices accordingly for optimal crop production.

Farmers have embraced the use of improved seed varieties that are drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, or high-yielding to enhance productivity in their fields. Small-scale farmers are adopting better livestock management practices such as rotational grazing, improved feed formulation for animals’ diets, and disease prevention measures for healthier livestock production.

Madzura said farmers are implementing climate-smart agricultural practices such as rainwater harvesting, agroecological zoning, and weather-based crop planning to adapt to changing climatic conditions in Zimbabwe.

She said there is a trend towards market-oriented production among small-scale farmers who are diversifying into high-value crops like horticulture or venturing into value-addition activities like processing or packaging their agricultural products for sale.

“Some small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe have turned towards organic farming methods that promote sustainable land use by excluding synthetic inputs – preferring natural sources of nutrients and pest controls which leads them to producing organic produce which fetches better prices at market compared to conventional produce with synthetic inputs.

Large-scale commercial farmers in Zimbabwe have adopted precision agriculture techniques such as soil testing, variable rate application of fertilizers and pesticides, and GPS-guided machinery to improve efficiency and productivity. Farmers in Zimbabwe are adopting climate-smart agricultural practices such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, and agroforestry to mitigate the impact of climate change on their crops and livestock. They are investing in research on improved crop varieties that are better adapted to local growing conditions, have higher yields, and have greater resistance to pests and diseases. Farmers are implementing sustainable land management practices such as terracing, contour plowing, cover cropping, and reduced tillage to improve soil health and reduce erosion,” Madzura said.

Large-scale commercial farmers are investing in mechanization technologies such as tractors, combine harvesters, irrigation systems, and post-harvest handling equipment to increase efficiency in farm operations. Farmers are adopting IPM strategies that combine biological control methods with judicious use of pesticides to manage pest populations while minimizing environmental impact.

Commercial farmers conduct market research on consumer demand and price trends to inform their choices on which crops to grow for maximum profitability.

Efforts to bridge the gap between researchers and farmers through extension services and knowledge transfer programs can help improve the uptake of research findings in agriculture. To a greater extent, adoption rates may be slower due to factors such as cost barriers, lack of awareness or understanding of the technology, or resistance to change.

There is still considerable variation in adoption rates across different regions and types of technologies. The government can invest in extension services to bring the latest research findings directly to farmers. This can involve training and supporting extension workers to effectively communicate and demonstrate new techniques or technologies to farmers.

As a recommendation, Madzura underscored the need to provide educational programs, workshops, and field days for farmers to learn about the latest research findings and how they can be applied to their farms. She said it is important to set up demonstration plots where farmers can see firsthand how new techniques or technologies work in real-world conditions.

The agronomist encouraged the provision of incentives such as subsidies, grants, or tax breaks for farmers who adopt new research-based practices in addition to working with agribusinesses to promote and provide access to innovative products and technologies based on research findings.

“Making research findings easily accessible through various channels such as radio programs, mobile apps, or online platforms targeted at rural communities is important and so is establishing networks of farmer groups where successful adopters of research-based practices can share their experiences with others and provide support.

“Equally important is creating policies that encourage the adoption of research-based practices by providing supportive regulatory frameworks and financial incentives for innovation in agriculture. Collaborating with agricultural universities, international organizations, and private companies will facilitate technology transfer from research institutions to the farming community,” Madzura said.

In his address, Dr. Gibson Chigumira, the Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit (ZEPARU) said it is important to have in place practice-based knowledge.

“I have seen that the motivation for journal articles is for promotion, not implementation of research. Let’s increase the appetite and consumption of research. There is a need to do away with the silo mentality and deepen our research. Let’s leverage on research that is already there and enhance synergies in various policy areas. Gastronomy tourism should have agriculture at the center stage. We need value-added research through knowledge banks. There is a need for skills anticipation studies to avoid skills mismatch in the agriculture sector,” Dr. Chigumira said.

Dr Edson Badarai, the Chief Executive Officer of the Grain Markleting Board (GMB) called for more collaboration between the agriculture industry and academia. He also advocated for the creation of a research database to ensure feedback on questions and comments raised.

Dr. Maxwell Mutema, an agriculture expert, said 1% of the GDP must be given to agriculture research.

“We need a national agriculture research fund from the GDP. We need to look at research holistically. We should address export horticulture challenges. Zimbabwe is not a member of of Intellectual Union of Trust of New Crops. We need avocado research which is important crop for export. At the moment, we are-relying on South Africa,” Dr. Mutema said.

Professor Obert Jiri, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development said there is a need to review and document the outcomes from the Agricultural Excellence Indaba.

“We need to outline the key outcomes from the innovative research results. Working on the modalities of the technological rollout is critical to producing monetary value from technology (E – Tech, Marketing, E – technologies),” Prof Jiri said.